Sports
Hockey

Garrett Meurs of Ripley recently ran a hockey school Kincardine from Aug. 12 to 16 where he taught kids the skills of hockey. Meurs who recently signed an entry level contract with the Colorado Avalanche in March is ready to move forward with his career after playing four successful years with the OHL Plymouth Whalers. Meurs (right) with one of his hockey school kids, seven-year-old Chris Martins who came all the way from Plymouth, Michigan for the week long hockey school.

Ripley native Garrett Meurs who recently signed an entry level contract with the Colorado Avalanche in March is ready to move forward with his career after playing four successful years with the OHL Plymouth Whalers.

Meurs said he will be attending the Colorado Avalanche rookie camp on Sept. 6 and is hopeful he will play games in the NHL, but will look to play a strong season for the Avalanches' AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland.

“Things are going good leading up to the hockey season. I've been working out all summer and now that it's getting closer to Colorado rookie camp, I'm on the ice everyday,” said Meurs. “I'm hoping to play this year in the NHL as well as with the Lake Erie Monsters. The rookie camp usually consists of fitness testing, a lot of skating and scrimmages and then after that the main camp starts. I'm excited about moving forward with my hockey career.”

Meurs said playing for the Plymouth Whalers was a good experience that he said will help him in his pro career and he said he's excited about what type of team the Avalanche are putting out this year.

“My time with Plymouth was really good because I learned a lot from the coaches during my time there. It was just a great organization to play for. Last year in the playoffs with the Whalers was good experience because we made it out of the second round and it taught me a lot on how much work it takes to get there,” said Meurs. “Colorado has a young team this year with a lot of potential and over the last few years they have built up a lot of good talent. They have a good base to work at and I would love to be up there playing.”

One of the things Meurs has been doing to keep busy on the off-season is running a hockey school which started on Aug. 12 and went to Aug. 16. He ran the school with help from Kincardine Bulldogs general manager Doug Kennedy and head coach Jeff Alcombrack. The school took place at the Kincardine Davidison Centre and was a full day of on and off ice activtieis for a group of 50 kids aged from five to 14. Meurs said the skills included power skating, puck handling, shooting and passing skills and scrimmages to end the day off.

“We have kids from Lucknow, Wingham, Kincardine, Ripley and even one that came all the way from Plymouth, Chris Martin,” said Meurs. “Chris and his family came up from Plymouth for the week. I met Chris and his family at a function and we just became attached since that.”

Meurs said working the camp has shown him how important teaching skills to kids at an early age is.

“I enjoy teaching the kids because it's always nice to transfer my skills over and teach kids the importance of things like skating and puck handling,” said Meurs. “I find skating is the most important skill to learn first and I make sure they are keeping a good stride and make sure everyone is using proper technique.”

Meurs said he has also learned a lot about coaching from Kennedy and Alcombrack.

“I have learned a lot from them especially about coaching because they have a wealth of information, which has given me a different perspective on how the game is played and taught.”

Meurs said he is ready for his upcoming hockey season and said it was a pleasure being able to teach the younger generation the skills of the game.

“It reminds me of going to hockey school when I was younger and learning from the older guys,” said Meurs. “Watching the kids develop out on the ice there reminds of myself when I was growing up and it puts a smile on my face.”